Get ready for some changes for the TCG in Japan!
The Champions League tournament has concluded for Pokemon TCG players in Japan. With the conclusion of the tournament came a few announcements regarding new Pokemon V cards but also changes coming to the TCG. Some of these changes included a Rotation announcement and First Turn Rules.
Rotation for Japan
Effective on November 29th, Japan will be rotating their Block A from their Standard format. This will essentially be cards that make up the Sun & Moon to Crimson Invasion sets that were release around the world. That means that only cards from Block B, C and D (Ultra Prism to Sword & Shield) will be legal for tournament play in Japan.
It isn’t clear why this is being done. This could be a way to match the Standard format that is being used everywhere else in the world regarding the Pokemon TCG. Players around the world outside of Japan started to play with the Ultra Prism-on Standard Format since September 1st. Perhaps this is being done for Japanese players to get use to playing foreign events such as Worlds. After all, it will be a huge shift for players who spend the whole year playing with Sun & Moon cards to shift playing with decks that don’t have access to Tapu Lele GX.
There are a few issues with Japan rotating their Block A. One of those issues will be Lillie from Sun & Moon. There have been several reprints for Lillie in Japan. All of them have included the A block symbol on the card. Once the Block A rotates, all these reprints for Lillie will illegal for Standard tournament play.
If this rotation is being done to mirror the Standard format around the world then Lillie will be causing problems. That is because Lillie was reprinted as a normal card in Ultra Prism. So while Japan play their decks without Lillie, US players will still have access to use Lillie in their decks. The same for Lusamine who was reprinted with a new full art in Ultra Prism.
No Supporters in First Turn Rule
Players going first are not going to be able to use a Supporter.
This new rule has only been announced for Japan but do not be surprise if it is introduce worldwide. There is no reason why this rule was made. Most likely this was done due to the amount of powerful Supporter cards such as the Tag Team Supporters and others that give a huge advantage if going first.
This isn’t the first time that this rule was implemented in the TCG. Prior to the HeartGold & SoulSilver era of the TCG, Supporters were not allow to be played during your first turn.
A few things may happen due to not being able to play Supporters. Some of these things includes more donks, some cards going down in usage and slower games.
The chances for more donks could rise due to not being able to use a Supporter if you go first. After all, cards like Cynthia and Lillie are used to dig into your deck to grab more Pokemon or to find ways to search for Pokemon. If a player going first starts off with a single Pokemon and unable to find another one. Then the opponent going second and easily get the needed Energy on their Pokemon with cards like Welder to knockout the only Pokemon on the other side of the field.
Some cards may go down in usage. These cards include Lillie, Professor Elm’s New Lecture and Poké Maniac. Lillie is a card that gives the player a chance to draw many cards if they use it on their first turn. Now it will only be useful if they go second. That is a small window to only draw up to eight cards. Especially if based on a coin flip. Cards like Professor Elm’s and Poké Maniac help you search cards that you hope to evolve during your next turn. Though, they may not be useful to those who go first in a game because now they need to wait until their their turn if they want to evolve their Pokemon and use these Supporters.
Lastly, we may see slower games. Now that players who go first will take a big longer to set up because of this new rule. This was noted back before HGSS TCG era. The player going second may be able to use Supporters to set up but they will still need to wait to do anything else.
We do not know what else will be introduce with the arrival of Sword & Shield such as cards or rules. Though, players will need to be able to adapt when or if this rule does get apply worldwide. Cards like Dedenne GX will be even more valuable if players wish to go first in their matches.
Best of luck TCG players!
Source: PokeBeach
